The New Torchlight List: The Need to Read

Jim Flynn is a world expert on human intelligence, and the author of many ground-breaking books on intelligence, philosophy and politics. He came from a poor family and owes all his success to reading great books. So the Emeritus Professor of Politics at Otago University was disturbed to find that fewer and fewer adults and young people are reading for pleasure. Reading, he says, sharpens the mind helps us understand the world. Many are willing to try books recommended to them, so Jim Flynn read and rated 400 books, mostly written by modern novelists - his findings are published in The New Torchlight List  - In Search of the Best Modern Authors. In this series, Wallace quizzes Jim Flynn on his picks and takes him to task - but the stoic 82-year-old claims no credentials as a literary critic - he just loves to read a good book.